Developing Research Capability to Increase Capacity Across the Nursing Workforce

Propagating seeds for Nurses to participate in research requires first an understanding of how
to avail the best evidence.1 While pre-registration preparation of Nurses plays a key role in
developing capability for evidence-based care2, to increase research capacity across the Nursing
workforce, these skills must be successfully transitioned into everyday practice. This paper
presents a potential solution while not pretending this is a panacea or quick fix.
In 2021, I embarked on establishing critically appraised topic (CAT) groups3 across a large
university NHS hospital with information specialists, having learnt the fundamentals on my NIHR
70@70 programme. We began by scoping the level of interest and brokered our knowledge with
six groups of multi-professional staff across the organisation. We soon learnt that facilitating
CAT groups required a significant time investment, and our forward plan focused on how to
increase pace and scale to foster independence and ensure sustainability of the model.
During 2024, we redeveloped the traditional CAT group approach, adding mentoring and access
to resources, we re-launched and renamed as CATerPILLAR. This became a programme with the
intervention being the CAT and agreed mentoring. We were also careful to align CATerPILLAR
with Nursing standards, the pilot group focussed on patient safety. Outputs were agreed at the
outset, which facilitated the ongoing commitment required, namely, to produce an abstract,
poster, presentation, and final report.4 The group developed lateral roots connecting and
learning from each other. A before and after survey of knowledge and skills showed a positive
increase in both, on completion. During 2025, a group of advanced clinical practitioners will be
enrolled to continue propagation of CATerPILLARs. (Ethics: GF0572).
Two CATerPILLAR members (2024) have secured places on the Interdisciplinary Clinical
Academic Health Research Excellence programme (iCAhRE)5, demonstrating CATerPILLAR also
has a positive role in developing pipeline of tomorrow's clinical academics.
REFERENCES
References
1. Baltruks B and Callaghan P (2018) Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professional
Clinical Academic Research Careers in the UK. Council of Deans, London. at:
https://councilofdeans.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Nursing-midwifery-and-allied-
health-clinical-academic-research-careers-in-the-UK.pdf. [Accessed 21st February 2025]
2. Nursing Midwifery Council (2024) Standards of Proficiency for Nurses, Platform 4 . London
www.nmc.org
3. Stevenson, K., Sarigiovannis, P., Finney, A. G., Cottrell, E., Lewis, R., Edwards, J. J., Hadley-
Barrows, T., Thomson, K., Reay, H., & Dziedzic, K. S. (2021). Development, spread and
impact of primary care and musculoskeletal communities of practice to assist rapid
translation of evidence into practice. Musculoskeletal Care , 19 (4), 564–569.
https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1552
4. White D, Beddow C, Budd S, Lipas K, Nair A, Randall E, Ting J, O’Connell B, Lees-Deutsch L.
(2024) Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment [ReSPECT]
Report: A Rapid Evidence Review. ISBN:978-1-84600-1260
https://doi.org/10.18552/CHC/2024/0001 [21/8/2024]
5. Interdisciplinary Clinical Academic Health Research Excellence programme (iCAhRE).
https://research.mededcoventry.org/About-Us/Meet-The-Team/For-
Researchers/Interdisciplinary-Clinical-Academic-Health-Research-Excellence-I-CAHRE
[Accessed 21st February 2025].
LEAD PRESENTER BIOGRAPHY
Liz is a clinical academic nurse in the Centre for Care Excellence. Over her total 34-year nursing
career, Liz spent 20 years as an acute medicine Consultant Nurse; published 130 professional
and academic papers concerning clinical audits, QI, Research and Service Developments. Liz’s
research interests are broad and multi-faceted. Her publications aid career development,
advancing practice, competency development. She is an enthusiastic facilitator for research
knowledge mobilisation across a multidisciplinary workforce, by developing communities of
practice. Liz is keen that clinicians with little exposure to research, QI and Audit can gain skills to
embed lasting research capabilities in practice.
TOPICS
PRESENTED BY
Prof. Liz Lees-Deutsch
Coventry University - (⚑ United Kingdom)
AUTHORS
1.
Prof. Liz Lees-Deutsch (⚑ United Kingdom) 1
2.
Mrs. Bridget O'Connell (⚑ United Kingdom) 2
1. Coventry University, 2. University Hospitals Coventry
and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Clinical topic, research field and research issues: Nursing, midwifery or support worker
education
Clinical topic, research field and research issues: Workforce and employment (including
heath and wellbeing roles, research careers)
Research approach: Survey
Data collection or analysis method: Questionnaire